While most people associate presidential travel with long motorcades and military jets, Donald Trump’s next ride as Commander-in-Chief could come with a golden twist—literally.
The U.S. and Qatari governments are closing in on a deal that would hand Trump a lavish $400 million Boeing 747-8—nicknamed a “flying palace”—to serve as his next Air Force One.
The Qatar Gift That’s Raising Eyebrows
According to a report from CNN, the aircraft transfer is being framed as an “unconditional donation” in the final draft of the agreement.
The deal is reportedly between Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Qatar’s deputy prime minister, Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani.
The wording of the agreement is careful to stress that it’s purely goodwill:
“This donation is made in good faith and in the spirit of cooperation and mutual support between the parties.”
The document adds that the memorandum of understanding shouldn’t be interpreted as bribery, undue influence, or corruption—a clause clearly aimed at avoiding backlash.
The Political Drama Around the Deal
Back in May, the White House’s announcement of this Qatari donation sparked backlash—not just from Democrats but even from a few Republicans.
Critics were especially uneasy when it was revealed that the aircraft wouldn’t just be used during Trump’s second term—it would also be transferred to his future presidential library.
Trump’s Personal Tour of the Jet
In mid-February, Trump personally checked out the luxury jet, which had been parked just a few miles from Mar-a-Lago at West Palm Beach Airport.
His tour came just before a May trip to the Middle East, where he visited Doha, Qatar.
Shortly after that trip, the U.S. accepted the Qatari offer.
The initial agreement was signed on July 7 by Hegseth and Al-Thani.
As of now, there’s still no official word on when the final paperwork will be completed.
Where the Jet Is Now and Who’s Paying for What
Right now, the aircraft is sitting in San Antonio, Texas—but it’s far from ready.
The Defense Department is receiving it strictly “as is,” which means American taxpayers will be footing the bill to outfit it as a secure, flying command center, a.k.a. a “Situation Room in the sky.”
Despite the public interest, Hegseth has been tight-lipped about costs.
When pressed by Sen. Jack Reed during a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing in June, Hegseth claimed that both the budget and timeline for the makeover had to stay classified to ensure presidential security.
The Legal Memo Nobody’s Seen
There’s also a legal side to the story that’s shrouded in secrecy.
The Justice Department has not released the memo written by Attorney General Pam Bondi, which lays out why the Trump administration is legally allowed to accept this donation.
That lack of transparency triggered the Freedom of the Press Foundation to file a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit on Monday, demanding that the memo be made public.
The document reportedly states that as long as the plane ends up in Trump’s presidential library, the gift is above board.
A Florida Library for a Florida Resident
If everything goes according to plan, the jet will one day be on display at Trump’s presidential library, which is expected to be built somewhere in Florida.
Trump changed his official residency from New York to the Sunshine State back in 2019, setting the stage for the library’s location.
Air Force One Makeover Drama Isn’t New
This isn’t Trump’s first time trying to revamp Air Force One.
During his first term, he negotiated a deal for two new Boeing aircraft meant to serve as future presidential jets. Bu
t that project has been hit by cost overruns and delays.
Trump also had plans to give the new planes a makeover—his preferred red-white-and-blue color scheme, modeled after his own “Trump Force One” jet.
However, when President Biden took office, he chose to stick with the classic Kennedy-era blue and white design.
Trump Stands Firm on Design Plans
Still, Trump isn’t letting go of his dream jet look.
In a chat with the Daily Mail back in February, he made it clear:
“No matter what,” he said, “my new Air Force One will have my color scheme.”
